Copper wire, worth more than minutes

Om Malik

Dec. 8, 2006 - 10:00 AM PDT
Dec. 8, 2006 - 10:00 AM PDT

Botswana Telecommunications Corporation is facing not so unique problem: folks are stealing its copper cables, and selling it for profit, and in the process playing havoc with its finances. Now that is a unique way of taking revenge on the phone company. The company has spent nearly $275,000 in an attempt to replace stolen cables. The thefts are also killing the business at two wireless operators who rent capacity from the incumbent.